Prince Edward County is at a crossroads. After years of rising taxes, worsening service levels, stalled infrastructure work, and governance failures across critical files — from affordable housing to economic development — residents are increasingly asking a difficult but necessary question:
Is this the right council to lead the County into the next decade?
A clear-eyed review of council’s performance suggests the answer is no.
1. Property Taxes Have Risen Significantly With No Visible Improvements
County tax increases have outpaced inflation for several years.
• 2023 budget: ~6.7% increase
• 2024 budget: ~7.2% increase
• 2025 increase: projected above inflation again
Yet residents consistently report declining service levels. Snow clearing, road maintenance, seasonal operations, bylaw enforcement, and capital project timelines have all lagged behind demand.
This pattern — higher taxes without better services — is the clearest signal that current leadership is not delivering value.
2. Infrastructure Decline: Roads Are Now a Crisis, Not a Complaint
According to the County’s Roads Needs Study:
- Over 50% of municipal roads are rated “poor” or “very poor.”
- More than $250 million in road rehabilitation is currently unfunded.
- Road lifecycles are being shortened due to deferred maintenance.
Residents aren’t imagining the deterioration — the County’s own engineering assessments confirm it.
At the same time, council continues to approve new subdivisions and intensification without a matching long-term roads funding plan.
This is not planning. This is hoping.
3. Governance Failures: The Affordable Housing Breakdown
The Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation (PECAHC) is now a countywide symbol of mismanagement.
- 10 years of work (task force 2011 → corporation 2019)
- Millions in loans authorized
- Hundreds of thousands spent on consultants and pre-development
- 0 units built
Meanwhile, comparable municipalities — Quinte West, Northumberland, Belleville — have delivered affordable units consistently over the same timeframe.
The problem is not housing economics.
The problem is leadership, structure, and accountability.
4. Economic Strategy: Tourism Overdependence and the Absence of Year-Round Jobs
Council has continued to rely on seasonal tourism while other municipalities aggressively attract permanent employers.
During this term:
- No major year-round employer has been recruited.
- No industry diversification strategy has been implemented.
- Economic development funding and Municipal Accommodations Tax (MAT) dollars continue to be directed toward tourism promotion rather than workforce stability.
It is unrealistic — and irresponsible — to build a sustainable County economy on four months of summer.
Residents deserve a government with a plan for 12-month jobs, not just July weekends.
5. Lack of Professional Skill Sets at the Council Table
Council is responsible for:
- An $80 million operational budget
- Nearly $1 billion in municipal assets
- Multi-year infrastructure planning
- Contract negotiation
- Oversight of large capital projects
- Long-term debt management
- Strategic land use decisions
- Public accountability in emergencies
This level of responsibility is comparable to the governance of a medium-sized business — yet PEC pays councillors roughly $27,000–$32,000 per year, depending on role.
This compensation structure does not attract candidates with the professional experience required to oversee complex municipal operations.
Compare that to similar municipalities:
| Municipality | Population | Councillor Salary | Mayor Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belleville | 56,000 | ~$46,000 | ~$130,000 |
| Quinte West | 45,000 | ~$42,000 | ~$120,000 |
| Cobourg | 20,000 | ~$35,000 | ~$90,000 |
| Northumberland County Warden | — | — | ~$125,000+ |
Prince Edward County councillors, in contrast, earn salaries more typical of a part-time board, not an executive governing a complex municipality.
6. Why Councillors Should Earn $100,000 and the Mayor $140,000
This is not about paying politicians more.
It’s about paying for competence, accountability, and modern governance.
If council compensation is set at:
- $100,000 per councillor
- $140,000 for the mayor
…several outcomes follow:
A. Higher-calibre candidates step forward
Attracting professionals — accountants, planners, engineers, entrepreneurs, administrators, legal professionals, public-sector managers — requires competitive compensation.
B. Fewer seats, higher expectations
PEC currently has more councillors than many municipalities of similar size. A more streamlined council (10–11 members) paid appropriately produces better decision-making, clearer accountability, and fewer repetitive debates.
C. Full-time governance, not volunteer governance
Municipalities with professionalized councils consistently make better long-term financial decisions and avoid the costly mistakes that part-time representation often produces.
D. Better oversight of Shire Hall
PEC’s administrative bureaucracy has grown significantly. Council must have the expertise and authority to provide real oversight — not simply approve staff recommendations.
7. Generational Renewal Has Become a Necessity, Not a Preference
Prince Edward County has one of the oldest councils in Ontario by median age.
Age itself is not the issue — stagnation is.
The County needs councillors who:
- Understand modern infrastructure financing
- Can interpret multi-year financial models
- Can oversee project management
- Know how to evaluate consultant deliverables
- Have experience with governance, risk, and compliance
- Understand housing economics, planning law, and labour market realities
- Embrace digital transformation and data-driven decision-making
Residents aren’t asking for miracles — just competence, urgency, and accountability.
8. Conclusion: PEC Cannot Afford Another Four Years Like the Last Four
The County faces an unprecedented combination of pressures:
- Aging infrastructure
- Housing shortages
- Economic stagnation
- Property tax fatigue
- Administrative expansion
- Declining service quality
- Talent shortages
These challenges cannot be solved by the same council that presided over their worsening.
Prince Edward County needs a new council — younger, more qualified, more professional, and more accountable.
Not because change is fashionable.
Because change is required for survival.
If we expect better results, we must elect a council capable of producing them.
2026 Municipal Election – Web Guide
- 2026 Municipal Election – Web Guide Why Run? Running for council is about shaping everyday decisions: taxes, roads, housing, staffing, and by-laws. Prince Edward County needs candidates with skills, curiosity, and the courage to ask better questions. Eligibility & Registration You must be 18, a Canadian citizen, and a resident or property owner. Nomination opens May 1, 2026 and…Read more
- Prince Edward County 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Manual A practical, comprehensive guide for first-time and returning candidates (for your mini-site and downloadable manual) This guide is written for Ontario municipal elections under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, and reflects widely posted 2026 key dates and standard Ontario requirements. Final local details (hours, filing logistics, forms package, and any PEC-specific procedures) will be confirmed…Read more
- Prince Edward County Needs You: Why New Candidates Should Step Forward in 2026 Prince Edward County is approaching one of the most important municipal elections in its history. The decisions made in 2026 will determine whether PEC becomes a thriving, affordable, sustainable community — or continues down the path of rising taxes, stagnant job growth, failing infrastructure, and deepening affordability issues. We need new leaders.We need people with…Read more
- Time for Renewal: Why Prince Edward County Needs a New Council in 2026 Prince Edward County is at a crossroads. After years of rising taxes, worsening service levels, stalled infrastructure work, and governance failures across critical files — from affordable housing to economic development — residents are increasingly asking a difficult but necessary question: Is this the right council to lead the County into the next decade? A…Read more